A seminal work of Surrealist Abstraction, this 1944 painting by Arshile Gorky uses fluid washes and biomorphic forms to evoke the natural world.

One Year the Milkweed, painted in 1944, represents a period of intense creative output for Arshile Gorky. During this time, he spent summers in Virginia, where the natural environment provided a departure from his earlier focus on the human figure. The work displays his characteristic method of thinning paint to a wash, allowing colours to bleed and drip across the surface of the canvas. This technique creates a sense of fluidity, where forms appear to emerge from and recede into the background.

The composition is populated by organic, biomorphic shapes that suggest botanical elements, though they remain ambiguous. Gorky balances these soft, flowing forms with sharper, linear structures that anchor the visual field. The palette consists of earthy greens, ochres, and muted reds, punctuated by areas of white that provide structural clarity. These colours reflect the seasonal shifts of the Virginia countryside, filtered through Gorky's memory and emotional response to the landscape.

Unlike the rigid geometry found in his earlier works, this painting demonstrates a move toward a more lyrical, gestural approach. The application of paint is deliberate, with visible drips that reveal the process of creation. By layering thin glazes, Gorky achieves a depth that avoids traditional perspective, instead creating a space that feels both immediate and distant. The work functions as a bridge between his engagement with European Surrealism and the emerging American style that would define the post-war era. It captures a specific moment of observation, translated into a personal visual language that prioritises sensation over literal representation.